甘南

Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of Gansu Province, at the transitional zone between the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau, with an average altitude of around 3,000 meters. It has a plateau climate with large annual temperature differences, cool summers, cold and dry winters, abundant sunshine, and rainfall concentrated from June to September.

Gannan has a long history, having been a region where ancient peoples such as the Qiang, Tuyuhun, and Tubo once lived. In the 13th century, Tibetan Buddhism was introduced, gradually forming a theocratic system. In the 17th century, Labrang Monastery was established, becoming one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was founded in 1953.

Gannan's culture is predominantly Tibetan, including Tibetan Buddhism, thangka painting, Tibetan opera, and Guozhuang dance. Local specialties include butter tea, tsampa, hand-grabbed lamb, Tibetan buns, and jue ma rice. Tibetan costumes, architecture, and folk festivals such as the Xianglang Festival and the Sunning Buddha Festival are highly attractive.

In recent years, Gannan has vigorously developed tourism, creating the "Nine-Color Gannan" brand and continuously improving infrastructure. At the same time, ecological protection has been strengthened to promote green development, making it a national demonstration zone for ecological civilization. The agricultural, livestock, and Tibetan medicine industries have also developed steadily.